Etrac false signals

[sandhog]

Hi everyone.
I'm new to treasurenet and fairly new to metal detecting.
Having a weird issue with my Etrac and wanted to get some feedback before it goes for repair.
Several times lately I have hit a strong repeatable signal with depth at around 8". I dig the plug and the Etrac pinpoints dead center on the hole followed by further digging, sometimes over a foot, still with depth at 8" or so and pinpointing dead center and still no target on further digging.
Then POOF. No signal at all. I raise and lower the coil, check the hole and diggings and nothing. Turn the detector off and on and still nothing. Check it against my digger and and a coin and works fine.
Any suggestions would be apreciated

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Strictly +2 or +3 Sensitivity for a while.

Until you get used to the machine, do not get aggressive ok?

I'll admit, I run in Manual 20's, but I have over 4,000 hours on mine, and I can understand the pops better these days. And sometimes I can't even stand the noise. Most of my finds come at +3 sensitivity. I only use the manual sens, in light trash situations. The worst thing you could do as a beginner is push the sensitivity. Just go slightly above where the machine tells you where you should be at, and you will notice a world of difference. Activate your noise cancel every half hour if possible, holding the coil still above the ground around 30 inches. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your machine.


Call me at my office and I will help you out, ok? 828-242-5407

Mike

 

[RigDean]

On occasion an item can pinpoint on the EDGE of the coil if it is shallow... swing to the side of the target, disengage pinpoint, then go into pinpoint again. sweep slowly, completely across the target more than the width of your coil, using smaller sweeps with each pass. "eyeball" or mark where it hits the strongest, turn 90 degrees and repeat the process... X marks the spot!

sometimes large iron will pinpoint off to one side, so if you have pinpointed the location, go back into detect mode and see if the signal is where you pinpointed, if not then try a different angle or go into quickmask screen (all metal) and see if the cursor stays in the bottom right corner with fe #'s in the 30's... this is iron "falsing" and can greatly be reduced by following woodlands suggestion...turn down the sens or run in auto...

I call them "ghost signals" and I've dug a few for sure! they are very frustrating...

goodluck!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Strictly +2 or +3 Sensitivity for a while.

Until you get used to the machine, do not get aggressive ok?

I'll admit, I run in Manual 20's, but I have over 4,000 hours on mine, and I can understand the pops better these days. And sometimes I can't even stand the noise. Most of my finds come at +3 sensitivity. I only use the manual sens, in light trash situations. The worst thing you could do as a beginner is push the sensitivity. Just go slightly above where the machine tells you where you should be at, and you will notice a world of difference. Activate your noise cancel every half hour if possible, holding the coil still above the ground around 30 inches. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your machine.


Call me at my office and I will help you out, ok? 828-242-5407

Mike

I would give Mike a call, being your new at it being able to talk to an expert like Mike is a big plus.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Strictly +2 or +3 Sensitivity for a while.

Until you get used to the machine, do not get aggressive ok?

I'll admit, I run in Manual 20's, but I have over 4,000 hours on mine, and I can understand the pops better these days. And sometimes I can't even stand the noise. Most of my finds come at +3 sensitivity. I only use the manual sens, in light trash situations. The worst thing you could do as a beginner is push the sensitivity. Just go slightly above where the machine tells you where you should be at, and you will notice a world of difference. Activate your noise cancel every half hour if possible, holding the coil still above the ground around 30 inches. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your machine.


Call me at my office and I will help you out, ok? 828-242-5407

Mike

I would give Mike a call, being your new at it being able to talk to an expert like Mike is a big plus.

No expert here, I just have an easy way to explain the settings.

 

[sandhog]

Thanks for the helpful feedback.
I will decrease the sensitivity and see if that helps.
Usually run in auto +3. deep on, fast off, 2 tone ferrous with a fairly open pattern and check all iffy signals with quick mask.
These ghost signals are strong at 90 degree angles, pinpoint dead center and when they vanish there is nothing even on quick mask.

 

[jeff of pa]

I Keep hearing about Ghost signals with the Etrack
& Explorer, & Yes the one day I did make it out
I Gave up on a few signals as Ghosts.

however 10 to 12 Years ago When I Was learning my sovereign,
I Read alot about Halo effect & Breaking that Halo,
Or Moving good targets while digging.
causing Good Coins & other relics to Disappear
for awhile.
But was always Taught, If you got a solid signal
there is something There somewhere.

point Being, Are yous Absolutely sure
we are Giving up on Ghosts & Not
passing on 3 Cent Pieces, Tiny gold rings,
Etc, that are Now sideways, & OR An Inch
or 3 Deeper or to the Side ?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I Keep hearing about Ghost signals with the Etrack
& Explorer, & Yes the one day I did make it out
I Gave up on a few signals as Ghosts.

however 10 to 12 Years ago When I Was learning my sovereign,
I Read alot about Halo effect & Breaking that Halo,
Or Moving good targets while digging.
causing Good Coins & other relics to Disappear
for awhile.
But was always Taught, If you got a solid signal
there is something There somewhere.

point Being, Are yous Absolutely sure
we are Giving up on Ghosts & Not
passing on 3 Cent Pieces, Tiny gold rings,
Etc, that are Now sideways, & OR An Inch
or 3 Deeper or to the Side ?

Jeff,

How are your new "toys" working out?

 

[extractor]

Halo effect

 

[gleaner1]

It could be a small thin flattened wafer of old rotten alum foil. You dig it all up, it falls apart, no more signal.

 

[jeff of pa]

I Keep hearing about Ghost signals with the Etrack
& Explorer, & Yes the one day I did make it out
I Gave up on a few signals as Ghosts.

however 10 to 12 Years ago When I Was learning my sovereign,
I Read alot about Halo effect & Breaking that Halo,
Or Moving good targets while digging.
causing Good Coins & other relics to Disappear
for awhile.
But was always Taught, If you got a solid signal
there is something There somewhere.

point Being, Are yous Absolutely sure
we are Giving up on Ghosts & Not
passing on 3 Cent Pieces, Tiny gold rings,
Etc, that are Now sideways, & OR An Inch
or 3 Deeper or to the Side ?

Jeff,

How are your new "toys" working out?

I Can't Get Out

A Lot of False Signals from the Weather People
Everytime they Predict 50's & Sunny, we Get
low 40's & Rain

Everytime they Predict Rain we get rain

Everytime they Predict Beautiful Weather
we Get 40's Clouds & Strong Winds out of Canada.

All Week Tomorow they Predicted Sunny 60's & Sunny Friday 70's.

Just looked Now they say
mid 50's Tomorrow, & Rain low 60's Friday

I Expect Nuclear Winter

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I Keep hearing about Ghost signals with the Etrack
& Explorer, & Yes the one day I did make it out
I Gave up on a few signals as Ghosts.

however 10 to 12 Years ago When I Was learning my sovereign,
I Read alot about Halo effect & Breaking that Halo,
Or Moving good targets while digging.
causing Good Coins & other relics to Disappear
for awhile.
But was always Taught, If you got a solid signal
there is something There somewhere.

point Being, Are yous Absolutely sure
we are Giving up on Ghosts & Not
passing on 3 Cent Pieces, Tiny gold rings,
Etc, that are Now sideways, & OR An Inch
or 3 Deeper or to the Side ?

Jeff,

How are your new "toys" working out?

I Can't Get Out

A Lot of False Signals from the Weather People
Everytime they Predict 50's & Sunny, we Get
low 40's & Rain

Everytime they Predict Rain we get rain

Everytime they Predict Beautiful Weather
we Get 40's Clouds & Strong Winds out of Canada.

All Week Tomorow they Predicted Sunny 60's & Sunny Friday 70's.

Just looked Now they say
mid 50's Tomorrow, & Rain low 60's Friday

I Expect Nuclear Winter

That sucks, I know if your like me you're wanting to go "play" with them.
It's like getting Christmas gifts as kids and then can't play with them...

 

[jeff of pa]

they are sitting here Taunting Me

 

[windage]

New member, first post.
Sandhog...I did not see in your post where you rechecked around the hole in "all metal" after your ghost died..
My old "Tesoro Golden Sabre" will give a good, even great "ghost-tone" just off the end of certain iron, especially cut iron nails down at 6 to 12". I get so busy digging these "signals" I forget to check for the presence of iron projecting out on a radius (picture wheel spoke). So is it a HALO projected out from the end of iron, that once uncovered, goes away in discriminate, but really is beside the hole in all-metal

BTW, I am in the process of ordering an Etrac from Mike too.

 

[jeff of pa]

extractor, Does This Help ?

it's called a "Swingy Thingy"

Although I Have Used Bungies in the past By hooking
the other end to my Belt & Sometimes
Shirt Neck. in a Pinch.

 

[extractor]

Thanks Jeff That's a big help seeing how it is attached.

 

[jeff of pa]

Yep Just Slides On